Commonwealth Youth Forum: Youth in the Post 2015 Development Agenda

The first thematic session for the Commonwealth Youth Forum – in the context of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – included a discussion on Youth and the Post 2015 development agenda. The panel consisted of Mr. Ravi Karkara (UNHABITAT, UNMC and Advisor to the World Conference on Youth 2014), Mr. Lloyd Russell Moyle (Vice President of the European Youth Forum), Ms. Esther Eshiet (Youth representative for the High-level Panel on Post 2015) and Dr. Saman Kalegama (Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies in Sri Lanka). The session was moderated by Ms. Katherine Ellis, Director of Youth Affair at the Commonwealth Secretariat. Read a summary of proceedings below:

“Delivering the keynote speech, Mr. Ravi Karkara highlighted the importance and the need of youth participation, deliberating that the ‘time is now’. Reflecting on the MYWORLD survey that is currently being conducted by the United Nations, he talked with appreciation as to how young people have actively contributed towards the survey, raising their voices and making sure that what matters to them are heard. He further mentioned the importance of a solid goal on youth development and the importance of proper structures and mechanism to ensure youth participation in matters of national, regional and international interest. These structures should not be kept at only the formulation level, but should truly be implemented.
Ravi Karkara also spoke on the World Conference on Youth, which is to be held in Sri Lanka in 2014, highlighting its importance and relevance to youth participation. He claimed that this is indeed the ‘best time’ for such a Conference due to many reasons, one being the Synthesis Reports that is produced by the United Nations Secretary General in the year 2014. He was of the view that the World Conference on Youth 2014 will be an ideal platform for youth all over the world to come together, and to be included in a truly inter-generational and an inclusive dialogue as to what they want to see in the future.”